A Look Into My Gut Healing Protocol

What My Stool Test Revealed About My Gut

After dealing with bloating, abdominal cramping, inflammation, gas, sugar cravings, and just generally feeling “off” for over a year, I finally decided to run a full GI stool panel to get a better understanding of what was actually happening inside my gut.

And honestly? The results explained a LOT.

1. My gut microbiome was significantly out of balance

The biggest finding was a pretty notable imbalance in my gut flora (also called dysbiosis).

Your gut is supposed to contain a healthy balance of good bacteria, opportunistic bacteria, yeast, and other microorganisms that all work together to support digestion, immunity, hormone regulation, nutrient absorption, inflammation control, and even mood.

Mine showed heavy overgrowth in several categories.

The test found:

• Heavy mixed gram-negative flora

• Heavy mixed gram-positive flora

• Heavy overgrowth of several bacterial strains including:

  • Pseudomonas fragi

  • E. coli

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae

  • Streptococcus mitis

Now, some of these bacteria can exist in the gut normally in small amounts. The issue is the overgrowth. When bacteria that are normally harmless become excessive, they can start contributing to inflammation, bloating, digestive discomfort, food sensitivities, and overall gut dysfunction.

So essentially… my gut ecosystem was struggling to stay balanced.

2. I tested positive for Blastocystis hominis (a parasite)

The test also detected Blastocystis hominis in high amounts (“many trophozoites”).

And before everyone panics at the word parasite… this is actually more common than people think.

Many people carry parasites or opportunistic organisms in small amounts without major symptoms. The problem happens when they become overgrown or when the gut environment is weakened enough that they begin contributing to symptoms.

In my case, this likely explains a lot of the:

• lower abdominal cramping

• sharp pain

• bloating

• inflammation

• digestive upset

My practitioner explained that the priority is helping restore balance and reduce inflammation so my gut can properly heal.

3. I also had a significant yeast/fungal overgrowth

Another major finding was:

• Geotrichum candidum — heavy growth

This is a fungal/yeast overgrowth.

When yeast becomes excessive in the gut, it can contribute to:

• bloating

• sugar cravings

• brain fog

• inflammation

• fatigue

• digestive discomfort

Which honestly made so much sense considering how intense my sugar cravings had become over the last year.

4. My immune response in the gut was LOW

One marker that stood out was my:

• Total intestinal sIgA: borderline low

sIgA is basically one of the gut’s first lines of immune defense.

When this is low, it can mean:

• the gut lining is stressed

• the immune system inside the gut is weakened

• the body may have a harder time regulating bacteria, yeast, and parasites properly

So instead of my gut being resilient and protective, it looked more depleted and overwhelmed.

5. My gut showed signs of inflammation

Another marker:

• Lysozyme: borderline elevated

This marker can indicate gastrointestinal inflammation.

So basically, my gut wasn’t just “imbalanced”… it was actively irritated and inflamed.

Which again lines up with the symptoms I had been experiencing daily.

The encouraging part

The good news is:

• there were no major dangerous pathogens detected

• no blood in the stool

• no evidence of H. pylori

• no Giardia

• no C. diff

• pancreatic enzyme function looked normal

• gluten antibodies were negative

So while my gut clearly needs healing, this gave us a really clear roadmap of where to focus.

What my healing plan is focusing on

Right now the goal is:

• reducing inflammation

• restoring healthy gut balance

• supporting the gut lining

• lowering the parasite/yeast overgrowth

• rebuilding gut immune function

Which is why I’m focusing heavily on:

• anti-inflammatory foods

• high protein meals

• cutting refined sugar

• reducing ultra-processed foods

• supporting hydration/minerals

• gut-healing supplements like L-glutamine and zinc carnosine

• lowering foods that may feed yeast/fungal overgrowth

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My Comprehensive 3 Month Plan

Phase 1: Calm + Repair

Goal: Reduce inflammation and begin repairing the gut lining.

For the first phase, I’m focusing on:

• Supporting the intestinal lining

• Calming irritation in the gut

• Reducing inflammation

• Nourishing and strengthening the digestive system

This phase includes gut-repair supplements like amino acids and digestive support compounds that help soothe and strengthen the gut lining while giving my body a chance to heal.

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Phase 2: Reduce Overgrowth

Goal: Address the bacterial, parasitic, and yeast overgrowth identified in testing.

This phase focuses on:

• Supporting the body in reducing unwanted organisms

• Breaking down protective biofilms

• Supporting digestion and detox pathways

• Continuing to lower inflammation while strengthening immune function

This portion of the protocol includes targeted herbal antimicrobials, antifungal support, biofilm disruptors, and intestinal support supplements designed to help restore balance in the gut microbiome.

Alongside supplements, I’ll also be temporarily avoiding:

• Refined sugar

• Alcohol

• Ultra-processed foods

• Excess dairy

• Mold-prone foods

And instead focusing on:

• Protein at every meal

• Cooked vegetables

• Healthy fats

• Electrolytes + hydration

• Whole, nutrient-dense foods

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Phase 3: Rebuild + Restore

Goal: Rebuild a healthier, more resilient microbiome.

Once the gut has had time to calm down, the focus shifts toward:

• Reintroducing beneficial bacteria

• Supporting digestion and motility

• Strengthening overall gut resilience

• Creating long-term balance

This phase includes probiotic and postbiotic support, along with supplements that help support healthy digestion and gut motility moving forward.

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The biggest takeaway

For a long time I kept telling myself:
“Maybe this is normal.”
“Maybe everyone feels this bloated.”
“Maybe I’m overreacting.”

But this testing reminded me that constant discomfort isn’t something we should just normalize.

And honestly? I’m just really grateful to finally have answers and a direction forward.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:

I want to be very clear that I am NOT a doctor or medical professional, and this is NOT medical advice. I am simply sharing my personal experience and the general approach I am taking under the guidance of a licensed healthcare provider based on my own lab work, symptoms, and health history.

Please do not self-diagnose or begin supplements/protocols based solely on what works for me. Gut health is incredibly individualized, and what one person needs may not be appropriate for another.

Always speak with a qualified healthcare provider before making significant dietary, supplement, or medical changes.

To follow this journey a little more closely, head on over to my INSTAGRAM